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Some please help Harry can rake the leaves in the yard 8 hours faster than his little brother Jimmy can. If they work together, they can complete the job in 3 hours. Using complete sentences, explain each step in figuring out how to determine the time it would take Jimmy to complete the job on his own.

Verified Answer :

use rates, the rate a person is working is the reciprocal of the time

working together, they work at a rate of 1/3 job per hour

when two people work together their rates add together
---> 1/h + 1/j = 1/3
---> h = j - 8 (harry takes 8 hrs less than jimmy)

substitute and solve for j

1j−8+1j=13
combine fractions
j+(j−8)j(j−8)=13
cross-multiply
j2−8j=6j−24
j2−14j+24=0
Factor
(j−12)(j−2)=0
j = 12

It takes jimmy 12 hours to rake the leaves